Probably one of the most prestigious awards related to medicine has a history behind it that some would consider more important than the award itself. Since 1963, the Space Medicine Association (SMA) has annually awarded the “Hubertus Strughold Award” to a prominent scientist or clinician for outstanding work in aeronautics medicine (Lagnado). The awards are respectively named after Hubertus Strughold, although I believe that such a prestigious award should be named after someone who can equally be called that. I believe that Hubertus Strughold's name should be dropped as the name for this award, based on feelings toward Nazi Germany, the lack of second chances in America, and the irreversible actions of Strughold himself. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Since the end of the most devastating war the world has ever seen, World War II, the crimes of Nazi Germany still ring true in the hearts of many Americans. The extermination of over six million Jews can easily be labeled the most horrific mass murder in history. After the war ended, the United States conducted the Nuremberg Trials (Lagnado) in an attempt to prosecute Nazi-linked criminals. Among these trials was a man named Hubertus Strughold, suspected of having been involved in "some infamous experiments in the Dachau concentration camp" (Lagnado). You may ask: How can a criminal suspect gain the honor of having this prodigious award named after him? Every time the prize is awarded, the American public is reminded of Nazi Germany, in contrast to the outstanding work completed by the scientist who received the prize (Lagnado). Some might ask: why was the award named after him in the first place? The term relating to the naming of an award, a film, the name of a street, etc. it is known as an eponym. An eponym generally refers to a popular name or someone who helped create what it is actually called (Webster's). The eponym of such an award given by the SMA should represent an undeniable role model, someone who carries the prestige of the award with honor. and dignity. However, I don't believe that honor and dignity come in the form of conducting potentially fatal experiments on children. German scholars noted that “at least one series of human experiments – involving children – took place within Dr. Strughold's institution” (Lagnado). This event has been documented as truth and involves half a dozen adolescent children taken from a local psychiatric facility and transported to a laboratory where experiments were conducted on humans (Lagnado). However, when asked about such experiments, Dr. Strughold responded with 'I have always forbidden in my institution even the thought of such experiments' (Lagnado). Considering “an undeniable pattern,” as previously mentioned, the SMA is now dealing with an untrustworthy war criminal as the focal point of their honored prize. Others might argue that everyone deserves a second chance in an effort to better themselves and the world around them. I simply don't agree. It seems the American standard is to not give second chances. Ask President Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, or any other president who has been rejected by the American people in his bid to win a second term. Or you could ask the millions of students across the country who received a “zero” for an assignment turned in late. Simply put, America's infrastructure leaves..
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